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Best of NH party in Manchester will benefit the hungry

The New Hampshire Food Bank is asking Granite Staters to support an important fundraising event this summer – the annual Best of NH party, 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. Proceeds from the event’s ticket sales will help feed hungry families across the state.

“This is a very important fundraiser for us as we head into summer,” said Melanie Gosselin, executive director of the New Hampshire Food Bank. “Donations typically drop during the summer months when folks are taking summer vacations and enjoying the nice weather, but the need in our communities actually increases. Families whose children rely on free or reduced-price lunches during the school year will have to find a way to provide those meals themselves, and that stresses their already fragile budgets. Many of them look to food pantries, which in turn look to us to provide that extra food.

“The Best of NH party helps us boost fundraising and awareness through the warm months, and we hope that New Hampshire residents will come to have fun, eat some incredible food, hear some great bands, and all the while they will be supporting the food bank and the people who depend on us.”

The New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of New Hampshire Catholic Charities, distributes more than 8 million pounds of purchased and donated food to more than 400 food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, children’s programs and other human service agencies throughout the state, which, in turn, provide food to hungry people in New Hampshire. Recent statistics indicate that one in 10 New Hampshire residents don’t know where their next meal will come from. Looking at children, one of the most at-risk groups, that ratio increases to one in eight. In Manchester alone, one of every four children goes to bed hungry at night.

“These numbers are really eye-opening.” Gosselin says. “Not many people are aware that hunger exists here in New Hampshire just as much as it does in big cities like Chicago, New York, Miami, and L.A.”

“What better time to be reminded of the needs in a community than when you are enjoying the blessings of living in such a bountiful state?” says Rick Broussard, editor of New Hampshire Magazine. “We’re delighted to be partnering with an organization that does such important work.”

This year, the party promises to be one of the best, with food and drink from more than 60 winners, nonstop entertainment and prizes galore, including an all-inclusive, seven-day trip to Sunset Resorts in Jamaica, courtesy of Penny Pitou Travel.

Months of discussion and planning will have gone into a fresh new atmosphere at the Verizon Wireless Arena and an even more dynamic line up of cuisine, music, talent and celebrity. But just like every year, one ticket buys your way into the complete experience of food and fun.

To guarantee tickets, call 868-7300, log on to www.ticketmaster.com or www.bestofnh.com.

The presenting sponsor is Comcast Business Class. Other sponsors include Hannaford, AutoFair, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Familia Camerana Tequila, New Amsterdam, Cross Insurance, CIGNA, New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center, Shock Top Lemon Shandy, Sunset Resorts, Penny Pitou Travel, WMUR, 95.7 WZID and 92.5 The River.

New Hampshire Magazine is the state’s largest lifestyle magazine. It is part of McLean Communications, of Manchester, a publishing company that also includes New Hampshire Business Review, New Hampshire Home, Parenting New Hampshire, Destination NH and BRIDE.